UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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Volume III * Issue 15 * September 16, 2022 | |
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
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Reverend Denis Letourneau Paul, Minister
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This Sunday, September 18, 2022 | |
In-Person and Zoom 10:00 am | |
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"God is a Verb"
Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul
“God” is one of those itchy words that makes many Unitarian Universalists uncomfortable, conjuring up images of a puppeteer god playing us from the heavens. But the word can have a lot of different meanings, including meanings that are abundant, creative and nuanced. There is a way of thinking about God that fits in with our shared understanding of that which gives life meaning.
ORDER OF SERVICE
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We will start upstairs in the sanctuary for a highly interactive Time for All Ages. I'm so excited to "make god " together! I hope that lots of kids participate in this memorable experience. Then we will head outside for a quick welcome back circle and some backyard fun.
Our Whole Lives
We are proud to announce that UUCSC will be hosting a training for Our Whole Lives (OWL) teachers in October. We are so grateful to the Hurdis Fund for supporting this training! Because of their funding for the training, we will be able to launch an OWL program for grades 8th-12th this year. An additional blessing is that we will be collaborating with Westminster and Providence UU to run these OWL classes. Stay tuned for more info soon!
Submitted by Lee Cowan, DRE
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We’ve all done it. We’ve all followed clickbait online when we should be doing something else. This morning, I read one of those “articles” about the things people around the world hear about the US, but don’t believe until they see it for themselves. I saw bits about noisy sports bars, yellow school buses, red solo cups, and this:
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My family is Quebecois. My parents moved to Hartford, CT, just before I was born, and even though my parents and older brother naturalized ages ago, we are still very much a Quebecois family. I know that because we love tourtiere (ground pork and potatoes in a flaky crust) and poutine (French fries with cheese curds and gravy). We don’t shy away from talking about money and personal finances. And we never say “bless you,” when someone sneezes. | |
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Well, I try to remember to say it when I am in a professional setting. A minister is supposed to hand out blessings like water, right? But when members of my family or household sneeze, I don’t say “bless you,” which drives my dear husband to distraction. This morning on our walk, he sneezed so loudly I almost fell off the sidewalk, then said — emphatically — “bless ME.”
It just feels weird to say it! I mean, why do we bless sneezes and not coughs? And why do we politely ignore other perfectly natural little bodily functions and noises? The tradition goes back centuries to the bubonic plague, to ask that God not make the sneezer that sick. Some even claim it was said because people actually believed sneezes were a way of preventing evil sprits from entering the body. We know better now. At least, I hope we do.
The thing that really fascinates me though is when UUs — especially humanist (aka atheist) UUs — say “God bless you.”
Really?
It just feels so… I don’t know… anachronistic? Maybe a breach of personal theology?
I agree with the person from Quebec quoted above, though. I think it’s nice that people bless each other. The world needs more blessings. Not from God, necessarily, but from each other. Simple wishes for good health, speedy recoveries, safe trips, pleasant days, and nourishing meals. We could bless every single breath or movement in the lives of our family, friends and neighbors, and I would still encourage more blessings.
But blessing sneezes still seems so weird to me.
I guess that is the power of cultural norms.
In Peace,
Rev Denis
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Save the Date--Congregational Meeting
TOMORROW September 17, 2022
10 AM to Noon, with lunch to follow
Join in this very important meeting to envision the future of UUCSC.
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If you can't make the Congregational Meeting... | |
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The Congregational Meeting is TOMORROW. I have talked with many of you individually about it and given you all some things to think about via the newsletter. The Board is aware that some people will be unable to attend and we want to hear from EVERYONE so we have created this online questionnaire that you can do from home at any time. Please do so if you can't come on the 17th or even if you just want to record your thoughts. Another way to have your voice heard is to speak up. I am always glad to hear from any one of you... be it questions, complaints or praise! (elizdn342@gmail.com or 783-1362) Or feel free to call Rev Denis, the rest of the staff or the other members of the Board.
The questionnaire can be accessed here.
I am excited about the energy I am feeling from the congregation as we start a new church year and I am confident this meeting will produce great results!
Submitted by Elizabeth Donovan
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From the Board…
While we had hoped to provide a full meal following our Congregational Meeting on Saturday, it became evident that we did not have the people power to pull it off. We want all UUCSC members to be engaged in the meeting, not doing last minute prep on a meal!
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We still encourage you to stay and enjoy a simple lunch of pizza (gluten-free and regular) and crudités with hummus and to visit with each other and continue the conversation. We will save our idea of a taco bar style meal for another time. Maybe you want to help make that happen! | |
From the Facilities Committee | |
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We are working on managing storage areas of the building and we need your help!
Three important aspects of this work:
- If your or area of responsibility or committee has been storing any items in any of the spaces of the building we need you to be sure your important items are labeled with your name and/or committee and current date (Sept. 2022) This way as we're reorganizing we will know who to contact.
- We need some help! Please contact Sally Barney if you can help.
- Important: Please do not leave any items or furniture you would like to donate without first contacting the Facilities Committee directly.
Submitted by Sally Barney
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The U.S. and the Holocaust
A new documentary by
Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein
Sunday - Tuesday
September 18 -20, 2022
on PBS
The U.S. and the Holocaust is a three-part, six hour series that examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century. Americans consider themselves a “nation of immigrants,” but as the catastrophe of the Holocaust unfolded in Europe, the United States proved unwilling to open its doors to more than a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge. This is not, as many of us have been led to believe, because Americans didn't know. But because they were afraid of being overrun by (non-Aryan) refugees. This series delves deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws in America. Our nation failed to live up to its ideals then. And, if we don't come to terms with our history, we are at risk of repeating those mistakes. Preview here.
September 15, 7-8 pm: "The Holocaust and Authoritarianism Today"
With Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, Michael Abramowitz (President, Freedom House) Moderator: Julia Ioffe, Puck. Discussion begins at 7pm ET. Presented by PBS and Freedom House. Register here.
Submitted by Barbara Holtzman
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UUCSC Anti-racism Group Explores Direction
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The UUCSC Anti-racism Group resumed on September 12, 2022 by Zoom with a brainstorming session of ideas for the coming year. Seventeen attended - many were since-the-beginning members and some were new. This is an open group; drop-ins are always welcome to join us in the work of undoing racism in ourselves, our congregation, our community, and our world! At our next meeting - September 26, 2022, 7:00-8:00 - we will be continue our brainstorm of ideas for the year and start to prioritize them. The Zoom link to the meeting is always on the church calendar. We meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. Please join us!
Read brainstorming ideas from 9/12/22 HERE.
Submitted by Nancy Richman
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Virtual program September 22, 2022, is free to all
Keynote Speaker Mónica Guzmán is the author of the recently released book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times and will speak to the ways the humanities and civic health intertwine, spark curiosity about our communities and histories, and illuminate new pathways. More information here.
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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“Queen and Slim”
September 26, 2022 - 7:30pm
United Theater
5 Canal Street, Westerly, RI
Presented in partnership with the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition, the United Theater is presenting the film: “Queen and Slim”. Embracing multiculturalism to address racism through education and empowerment, the United Theater’s Black Voices film series recognizes films from the greatest Black storytellers working in film and television. TRAILER
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Just Good Food: Creating Equitable, Sustainable, and Resilient Food Systems
The University of Rhode Island will focus its 59th annual Honors Colloquium on “Just Good Food” in fall of 2022.
The colloquium kicked off on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.; these free events run on Tuesday evenings at 7 throughout the fall in Edwards Auditorium or online.
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On Saturday, Sept 10, eleven happy folks gathered at Betsy Dalton's home in Hope Valley to enjoy a beautiful afternoon on the deck overlooking Locustville Pond and the many different Indian foods that Betsy prepared. We had a great time eating, talking, and at the end taking a video tour of Betsy's 2019 trip to Mumbai. | |
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This is just one of the many great D4$+ events this year. Thanks to all who hosted & all who supported these events. Your involvement continues to sustain our wonderful community.
Submitted by Betsy Dalton
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Review of The Inheritance, Part One
by Johnette Rodriguez
Art often inspires art, in a twist of genres or genders, settings or scenes. For
example, Matthew López's Tony-Award-winning two-part drama, The Inheritance, pays such homage to E. M. Forster's Howard's End that Forster himself gets a role in the play. Part One of this interpretation is running through November 5 at Trinity Repertory Company; Part Two runs September 22 through November 6.
It must be noted here that this production might not be for everyone. Each of the two parts is more than three hours, with two intermissions. However...each of the three acts in Part One goes by in a flash. The pace never lags; the moments of wit or insight, the lengthy soliloquies, the bits of poetic prose are always engaging, captivating, even mesmerizing.
READ FULL REVIEW
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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Peace Dale Congregational Church is going solar, and they're having a celebration/dedication event this Sunday, 9/18, at 2 pm. Read more here.
submitted by Lisa Petrie
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This war rages on...
The UUCSC Share the Plate committee recommends one of these four organizations that are providing support to Ukrainians in crisis.
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Bethany Sorrentino, Helping Hands Coordinator
Don't be afraid to ask for help - helping hands are here!
Helping hand volunteers are also needed.
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UUCSC Committees always need help and new ideas.
Membership Committee is vacant. Facility opening and closing is vacant. Please contact President Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn342@gmail.com.
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List of Black owned businesses from RI Monthly magazine. Patronize these businesses all year long. This small effort can help undo racism. Please send pics and reviews to Etta for sharing here and on website.
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Includes lists of Black-Owned Businesses
Your search for truth and meaning begins here.
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How to Submit Info to This Newsletter | |
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Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com and Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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